Engine-starting apparatus



Sept. 7 1926.

M. L. HILLMER I ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS April '7, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F'il Sept. 7 1926.

M. LTHiLL-JEER ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed April '7, 1923- She9ts=-$heet 2 MW WM //M \AFHA a MW 9/ t lwwimi 11111 ll L, mwwwmwwmwwfim E5:

Sept. 7 1926.

M. L. HILLMER ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 MW-\%LM/ 3 r w l 1 l r p A d e l i F xi *4 @w@ 9 Sept. 7

M. L. HILLMER ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed April 7, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 QZWKZ/ Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

m L. HIIiLhIER, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB TO GENERAL MOTORS COB.- POBATION, CORPORATION OF DELAWARE EN'GINEFSTABTING APPARATUS.

Application'filed April 7, 1923. Serial No. 630,652.

This invention relates to starting systems for internal combustion engines, and particularly wherein the starting device is normally disconnected from the engine gear, and is manually connected with the engine and rendered operative to crank the engine.

In certain of its aspects, it isamong the objects of the present invention to provide improvements in the type of engine starting apparatus disclosed in the copending application of William A. Chryst, Serial No.

. 630,637, filed April 7, 1923. That application discloses an electric starting device" adapted to be mounted vertically on an engine frame and to project upwardlv through the floor boards of an automobile and suporting above the floor boards an operating pedal within convenient'reach of the driver.

It is among the objects of the present invention to adapt certain features of the structure shown in said copending application to an electric starting device, including an electric motor having a cylindrical field frame commonly employed in starting de- 35 vices for automobile engines. This aim of the invention is accomplished by providing a cylindrical motor field frame with and frame which is adapted to the motor, and which includes the mechanism for shifting the motor pinion into engagement with the flywheel gear of an engine.

Other objects of the present invention are to simplify the construction of starting devices of this type, tending to reduction in cost of manufacture.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed.

In the drawings 1 is a veiw in elevation of an electric starting motor mounted on an engine crank case and embod 'ng the present invention. Fig. 2 is a migsectional view of the starter but showing certain parts in elevation.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the starting motor, looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view of the motor and frame showing the commutator brush assembly mounted thereon.

Fig. 6 is a mid-sectional view of the shifter ring and spring shell assembly.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the brush shifting yoke.

Fig. 8 is end view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, a starting motor 20 comprises a cylindrical motor field frame 21 having pole ieces 22 attached theretoby screws 23. over frame 25 and adapted end frame 100 are attached to frame 21 by bolts 26. These bolts pass through drilled holes 25 in end frame 25, longitudinally through the interior of frame 21 and their threaded ends are engaged with tapped holes in end frame 100. End frame 25 provides bearing 27, lubricated by grease cup 28 Frame 100 provides a support for bearing 29 within which is journaled arma. ture shaft 35, the commutator end of which rests in bearing 27 Shaft carries armature 36 and commutator 37.

A stationary brush arm 40 is provided with yoke 41, branches 42 and a clip portion 43. The free ends of branches 42 are loosely mounted on pin 44 which is secured to end frame 25 but insulated therefrom. Brush 48 is attached to arm 40 by a screw 49 which passes through brush 48 and engages with a, tapped hole in the yoke 0rtion 41. Terminal clip 50 to which lea 51 is attached, is also held in place by screw 49. This lead 51 connects brush 48 with one end of the motor field coils, the other end of said coils being connected with motor terminal 30 which is insulated from motor frame 21. Coil spring 45is located between the branches 42 and surrounds the pin 44, one end of said spring bearin against the yoke 41 and the other end therof resting in an annulargroove in the head of pin 46. Pin 46 is attached to the frame 25 but insulated therefrom by bushing 47. This spring 45 tends to urge the brush 48 in yielding contact against commutator 37 The motor switch mechanism includes a movable brush arm provided with a yoke portion 61, branches 62, and a clip portion 63. The free ends of branches .62 are loosely. mounted on. pin 64 which is grounded on 'frame 25. Brush 68 1s attached to arm 60 by a screw 69 which passes through brush 68 and engages with a tapered hole in the yoke portion 61. Terminal clip 70, to which lead 71 is attached, is also held in place by screw 69. Lead 71 is also connected with clip 72 which is grounded to frame 25 and secured thereto by screw 73. In this manner the brush 68 is grounded to frame 25. The free end of one of the branches 62 is provided with a clip 74 formed integrally therewith, to which is attached a roller 75 by rivet 76. Coil spring 65 is located between the branches 62 and surrounds pin 64. one end of spring 65 hearing against the yoke 61 and the other end thereof resting in an annular groove-in the head of pin 66 which is grounded to frame 25. This spring 65 tends to urge the brush 68 toward commutator 37. Roller 75 is adapted to be engaged by rod 90 (see Fig. 2), to be described, for normally holding brush 68 out of contact with commutator 37. Hole 31 is provided in end frame 25 to provide a bearing for the outer end of rod 90. Motor frame 21 is provided with slots 32 for inspection and removal of the brushes. These slots 32 are enclosed by a cover band 33 which surrounds frame 21 and is provided with a clasp 34 for holding the ends thereof together.

Shifter ring 110 is provided with an annular flange 111 which is spun over at 112 to secure the ring 110 to the annular flange 127 of shell 120 (see Fig. 6). Spring 125 is enclosed by shell 120 and bears at one end against the annular flange 127 and at the other end against a flanged retaining collar 126-attached to the pinion 131 by spinning over its hub' 132. As shown in Fig. 2, the spring 125 is compressed somewhat beyond its initial state and is held in this state of initial compression in the following man-'- ner. A plate 123 is centrally apertured to receive the pinion and shaft and is provided with radially extending notches 122 i which receive the teeth of the pinion 131 (see Fig. 3), these notches being spaced by portions 124 adapted to enter between the teeth and engage the collar 126 as shown in Fig. 2. The shell 120 is provided with prongs 121, adapted to pass through the notches 122. The spring 125 and collar 126 are assembled within-the shell 120, and the plate 123 is placed over the end of shell 120 with the prongs 121 entering the notches 122. The plate 123 is pressed toward the shifter ring 110 to lace the spring 125 in the initial state 0 compression, and the prongs 121 are bent over the outer face of the plate 123 to secure the pinion 131 in its proper relation to the shifterring 110, and

to maintain the spring 125-under compression. Thls operation secures the ring 110,

shell 120, spring 125, plate 123 and pinion' 131 in permanent assembled relation, forming a unitary structure which can be readily assembled in the starter device. 4

A cork disc 105 is floated on the shell 120' between the plate 123 and the surface 103 of the end frame 100, thus forming a brake for the pinion 131 and also serving to seal the aperture in frame 100 through which the shell 120 passes, so that an excessive amount of lubricant will not be thrown up into the compartment 101' from the engine frame below.

End frame 100 is provided with an opening 135, over which is placed a cover 136 attached'to the frame 100 by screws 137. A shaft 138 extends across this opening and is journaled with-in bearings formed by providing the end frame 100 and the cover 136 with semi-cylindrical notches which provide cylindrical bearings when the cover 136 is secured to the frame 100. The shaft 138 is formed from a piece of stock which is originally square in cross section. This stock is turned down to provide a cylindrical reduced portion 138 which is journaled in the left hand hearing, as viewed in Fig. 4. The stock is turned down adjacent its right hand end to provide shoulders 138 by slightly rounding off the corners of the square stock. One of these rounded off corners is shown at 138. A cylindrical sleeve 140 is placed over the portion 138 and is secured between the shoulders 138 and the hub 142 of pedal 141 which is attached to the shaft portion 138 by a pin 143. The sleeve 140 provides a journal for the shaft 138 in the right hand hearing as viewed in Fig. 4. The shaft 138 is prevented from moving to the left by the hub 142 and from moving to the right by a washer 144 and a cotter pin 145.

Brush shifting lever 150 is provided with a yoke portion 151 and branches 152 and 153, each having square holes 154 (see Figs. 7 and 8). These square holes 154 are adapted to engage with a squared portion 139 remaining on shaft 138, so that the lever 150 moves with shaft 138. An ear 155, formed integrally with the branch 153 is provided with a notch 156 which engages with a camming nut 91 threaded to the inner end of rod 90 and provided with camming surfaces 92 and 93 (see Fig. 2). A cylindrical sleeve 146 surrounds the squared portion 139 and is located between the branches 152 and 153. Branch 152 is prevented from movement to the right by contact with sleeve 140. Spring 157 surrounds sleeve 146, one end thereof; engaging in'the notch 159 of yoke 151, the other end thereof engaging with the wall ofcompartment 101, as at 158 '(see Figs. 4 and 2). B pressin against yoke 151, the spring 15 normal y holds ear 155 in contact with surface 93 of cammin nut 91.

Pinion shifting lever 160 is provi ed with ted by the spac' a yoke portion 161 and branches 162 and 163. Branch 162 is loosely mounted on sleeve 140 and branch 163 is loosely mounted on the reduced portion 138 of shaft 138. As viewed in Fig. 4, the lower ends of these branches are provided with studs 164 and 165 respectively which are adapted to engage with the shifter ring 110. Spring 167 surrounds sleeve 146, one end thereof engaging in notch 168 in yoke 161, the other end thereof engaging with the wall of compartment 101, such as. described in connection with spring 157. Levers 150 and 160 are prevented from longitudinal movement along shaft 138 by washer 144 and cotter pin 145" which passes through shaft 138.

Rod 90 passes through hole 106 in end frame 100 and is provided with camming surfaces 95 and 96 which are adapted to cooperate with roller 75 mounted on 'movable brush arm to raise and lower brush 68. with respect to the commutator 37. Normally the roller 75 rests on surface 95 to hold brush 68 out of contact with commutator 37. The rod 90 is guided at its upper end by portion 97 which asses through a rectangular aperture in i rame 25, and is supported by the car 155.

To operate the starter, the operator presses on starter pedal 141, whereby the shaft 138 will be rotated counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 and the lever 150 will move into contact with lever 160, the yoke 151 bearing against the goke 161. As yoke lever 150 moves towar lever 160against the tension of spring 157, the ear155 engages with the lower surface 92 of camming nut 91 and shifts the rod 90 endwise toward the engine crank case 85, and causing roller 75 to follow down on the surface 96 of rod 90 through tension of spring 65. When roller 75 starts to engage t e beveled surface 96, spring Willcause roller to cam the rod 90 endwise independently of movement of ear 155 until surface 93 of nut 9l enga es ear 155. This free endwise movement 0 rod 90 is ermitof surfaces 92 an 93 on nut 91 and is su cient to allow the brush 68 to move uickly into contact with commutator 37 an thereby reduce arcin The spac- 4 ing of surfaces 92 and-93 is su cient to take 'care of considerable brush wear.- When brush 68 engages with the commutator 37, themotor circuit is completed. At the same time the yoke 150 forces lever 160, which is loose on shaft 138, downwardly as viewed in Fi 2,.the studs 164 and 165 engaging and the motor circuit will be made when against lever 160 w sure on pedal 141, so that the motor circuit may be completed although the pinion 131 and 134 are not enmeshed. When the motor circuit has been completed, the pinion 131 will be rotated, and when the teeth thereof are in alignment with the teeth of gear 134, the spring 125 will jump the pinion 131 into mesh with gear 134.

As soon as the starting of the engine has been effected, the operator releases pressure on pedal 141, the same will be returned to normal position bv spring 157 bearing against lever 150 which operates shaft 138. This return movement of lever 150 causes car 155 to bear against surface 93 of camming nut 91 and force rod 90 endwise toward the commutator end of the armature 36, forcing roller 75 into contact with surface 95 of rod 90 and thus raise brush 68 out of contact with commutator 37 and break the motor circuit. The pinion 131 will be demeshed from gear 134 and returned to normal position by ressure of spring 167 iiich engages with shifter ring 10 through studs 164 and 165. In the event the motor stalls with the gears engaged, as might occur when the storage battery is relatively weak, the teeth of pinion 131 might fail to be disengaged from the teeth of gear 134, were it not for the fact that the motor circuit can be broken before the pinion is withdrawn. The release of ressure on pedal 141 permits the spring 15 to return lever 150 to normal position, whereby the'rod 90 is shifted endwise toward the commutator end of the motor and the brush 68 is lifted out of contact with the.

commutator 37 and the motor circuit broken. Breaking of the motor circuit relieves tooth pressure between the gears and permits spring 167 to effect the disengagement of pinion 131 from gear 134.

It may ha pen for various reasons that the engine, a ter the operator has completed the starting operation and released pressure on the foot pedal 141, will operate for a few explosions and then'stop, thus necessitat ng a repetition of the starting operation. To bring the pinion to rest quickly so that the startlng operation may be repeated without waiting but a brief interval for the p nion to come to rest, a inion brake is provided.

This includes p ate 123, cork or leather fabric disc 105 and end frame Surface 103.

When pressure on pedal 141 has been released, the spring'157 pressing on yoke 151 tends to return lever 150 to normal position, and at the same time the spring 167 pressing on yoke 161, forces the branches 162 and 163 upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 2, causing studs 164 and 165 to carry shifter ring 110 upwardly along shaft 35. The shell 120 is likewisecarried upwardly and the bent over prongs 121 carry the plate 123 upwardly and compress the disc 105 against surface 103 of end frame 100, thus tending to brake the motion of the pinion 131.

The present invention consists of a novel starting device in which an adapter end frame is provided, upon which may be mounted a conventional type of motor field frame. This adapter frame may be readily attached to the engine crank. case, only three bolts being necessary. The motor 20 may be easily detached from the adapter end frame by removal of bolts 26, and at the same time the end cover 25 with commutator brushes attached, may be removed from-the motor. The motor armature may then be removed from the motor, the shaft 35 sliding through pinion 131, .shell 120, shifter ring 110 and bearing 29.

This leaves the adapter end frame as a unit with the brush shifter rod 90 attached, andlthe levers 150 and 160 and shifter ring 110, shell 120 and pinion 131 still in position. The cover 136 may be removed from frame 100, but the pinion and brush shiftin mechanism will be yieldingly retained within the compartment 101 by springs 157 and 167.

I After rod 90 has been unscrewed from nut 91, the shaft 138, levers 150 and 160 and springs 157 and 167 may be removed from the compartment 101 through the opening 135. Then the shifter ring 110 and shell 120 may be removed through theaperture in the bottom of frame 100, as viewed in Fig. 2, carrying with them asa unitary structure the spring 125, collar 126, disc' 105, plate 123 and pinion 131. Levers 150 and 160, sleeve 146, and springs 157 and 167 may be removed from shaft 138 after removal of cotter pins 169 and 145 and washers 168 and 144. After removing pin 143, pedal 141 and bearing sleeve- 140 may be removed.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within thescope of the claims which follow.

1. In an engine starter, the combination with an electric motor including a frame, an armature and a shaft; of a piniondriven by said shaft; means located opposite one end of the armature for shiftingthe pinion along said shaft; a motor switch mechanism locatedopposite the other end of the armagine and a cover frame for the opposite end inion shifting of said field frame; of a pinion connected I with the motor and movable into engagement with an engine gear; a pinion shift ing lever mounted on the adapter frame; a motor switch mechanism mounted on the cover frame; a switch mechanism shifting lever mounted on the adapter 'frame; a member extending axially through said field frame and cooperating with the switch mechanism and the pinion shifting lever; and foot pedal means entirely supported by the adapter frame for operating the pinion and switch shifting levers.

3. In an engine starter, the combination with an electric \motor including a frame. an armature and a starter pinion driven by the armature; of means for shifting the pinion supported by the frame at one end of the armature; a motor swltch mechanism located at the other end of the armature; a 7

member extending between the armature and said frame and cooperating with the switch mechanism and the pinion shifting means; and a pedal supported directly by the frame for operating the pinion and motor switch.

4. In an engine starter, the combination with an electrlc motor including a frame, an armature and a starter pinion driven by the armature; of means located opposite one end of the armature for shifting the pinion; a motor switch mechanism located opposite the other end of the armature and including a movable switch arm; a memberextending axially within said frame and cooperating with ,the movable switch arm and pinion shifting means; and a pedal sup ported entirely by the frame for'operating the pinion and motor switch.

5. In an engine starter, the combination with an electric motor including a frame, an armatureand a shaft; of astarter pinion mounted on and driven by said shaft; means located opposite one end of the armature for motor switch mechanism located opposite the other end of the armature and including the motor commutator and a brush mounted shifting the pinion endwise on said shaft; :1

tirely by the frame for operating the pin ion and movable switch arm.

6. In an engine starter, the combination with a motor including a field frame, an

adapter end frame for attachment to an engine, and a cover frame for the opposite operating the pinion and switch shifting levers.

7. In an engine starter, the combination with a motor including a shaft; of a pinion driven by the shaft and slidable relative thereto into engagement with an engine gear; of means for shifting the pinion into engagement with an engine gear including a shifter ring, a flanged collar attached to the pinion and a spring, interposed between the ring and collar; and means for retracting the pinion including said shifter ring, a plate surrounding the pinion and provided with notches adapted to receive the pinion teeth, said notches being spaced by portions entering between the 'teeth and bearing against said collar, and

a member connecting said plate with said shifter ring.

,8. In an engine starter, the combination with a motor including a shaft; of a pinion driven by the shaft and slidable relative thereto into en agement with an engine gear; of means for shifting the pinion into engagement with an engine gear including a shifter ring and a spring interposed between the ring and'pinion; and means for retracting the pinion including said shifter v ring, provisions located at the end of the gear; of means pinion nearest the motor for blocking the spaces between the inion teeth, and a memberconnected wit said shifter ring and bearing against said blocking provisions.

9. In an engine starter, the combination.

with a motor including a shaft; of a pinion driven by the shaft and slid'able relative thereto into engagement with an engine or shifting the pinion into engagement with an en 'ne gear including a shifter ring, a flange collar attached to the pinion and a spring interposed between the ring and collar; and means for retracting the pinion including said shifter ring, a plate surrounding the pinion and provided with notches adapted to receive the pinion teeth, said notches beingspaced by portions entering between the teeth and bearing against said collar and a member provided with prongs adapted to be bent over the outer surface of said plate for connecting the plate with said shifter ring.

10. In an engine starter, the combination with a motor having an adapter frame for attachment to an engine; of a pinion connected with the motor and movable into engagement with an engine gear; a pinion shifting device including a shifter ring and a shell; a plate mounted on said shell and adapted to be driven by the teeth of said pinion; a brake disc mounted on the shell and adapted to contact with said plate and adapter frame; and means for disengaging the pinion from the engine gear and for compressing the brake disc between said plate and adapter frame'to brake the motor.

11. In an engine starter, the combination with a motor having a motor shaft and an adapter frame for attachment to an engine; of a pinion connected with the motor and movable into engagement with an engine ear' a brake includin a member driven J by the pinion, a friction disc located between said member and the frame and means for pressing the member toward the frame, ineluding a shifter ring, a rigid connection between the member and shifter ring; and means for moving said shifter ring.

12. In 'an' engine starter, the combination 'With a motor having a motor shaft and an adapter frame for attachment to an engine; of a inion connected with the motor and move 1e into enga ement with an engine gear; a brake inclu 'ng a member driven by the pinion, a friction disc located between said member and the frame; and means for pressing the member toward the frame, 1neluding a shifter ring, and a cylindrical member directly connected with the shifter ring and said member.

13. In an engine starter, the combination with a motor having at one end thereof an 4 gear; a motor switch; a shaft mounted within the adapter frame; and two shifting levers supported by said shaft within the adapter frame; one of said levers operating the switch and operating the other lever to shift the pinion.

14:. In an engine starter, the combination with a motor having at one end thereof an adapter frame for attachment to an engine, and a cover frame at the opposite end thereof; of a pinion connected with the motor and movable into engagement with an engine gear; a motor switch mounted on said end cover; a shaft mounted within the ada ter frame; and two shiftin levers supporte by said shaft within the a apter frame, one of said levers operating the switch and operating the other lever toshift the pinion.

15. In an engine starter, the combination with a motor including1 a field frame, an adapter frame for attac ment to an engine, and acover frame attached to the opposite end of said field frame; of a inion connected with the motor and move le into en gagement with an engine gear; a motor switch mounted on the cover frame; pinion and switch shifting levers mounted on the adapter frame; foot pedal means supported by the adapter frame for operating said levers; a spring for openin the motor switch and returning the foot e al to normal posi-.

7 tion; and another spring for disengaging the pinion from the engine gear.

16. In an engine starter, the combination with a motor having at one end thereof an adapter frame for attachment to an engine, and a cover frame at the opposite end thereof; of a pinion connected with the motor and movable into engagement with an engine gear; a motor switch mounted on the cover frame; a pinion shifting levermounted Within the first mentioned frame; and pedal mounted directly on the adapter frame for operating the shifting lever and motor switch.

17. In an engine starter, the combination with a motor having at one end thereof an adapter frame for attachment to'an engine and a cover frame attached to the o posite end thereof; of a pinion connected with the motor movable into engagement with an encover frame; pinion and switch shifting levers mounted on the adapter frame; andra for operating said levers.

18. In an engine starter, the combination with a motor including a field frame, a shaft and end frames supporting said shaft and secured to the field frame, one of said end frames being provided with an aperture coaxial with the shaft, through which the shaft extends; of a pinion driven by the shaft; and means supported directly by said apertured end frame for shifting the pinion, said means including devices extending through said aperture and moving said pin ion.

19. In an engine starter, the combination with a motor, including a motor shaft, a pinion driven by said shaft and slidable into,

engagement with an engine gear, and an.

adapter end frameprovided with'an aperture coaxial with the shaft and an opening at one side thereof; of a cover for the opening; a shifter shaft supported between the cover andthe frame; means for shifting the pinion including a lever supported by said shifter shaft and devices siidable along the motor shaft, said devices being removable through the end opening in the adapter frame and said lever and shifter shaft being removable through the side opening.

In testimony whereof I hereto afix signature.

' L. I-IILLISER.

pedal mounted directly on the adapter frame 

